Getting things built - or getting things right?
Development only works when trust does.
No one can credibly claim that Canada – or any part of it – doesn’t need a serious rethink about how we work together. During the recent federal election campaign, candidates floated big ideas: energy corridors, fast-tracking approvals, repealing legislation. These are important conversations for Canada’s economic future.
But as the saying goes: the devil is in the details.
It’s easy to sell a concept. It’s much harder to get the execution right. Too often, our political system fails all of us because it doesn’t prioritize the relationships, trust, and lived experience of the people most affected.
Indigenous peoples have heard countless promises, only to watch governments – and companies – walk away. Imagine being told for generations that commitments would be honoured, only to find they weren’t. In some cases, those promises were never intended to be kept.
If that was your experience, how could you justify “fast-tracking” approvals for projects on your land when trust hasn’t even been built – let alone repaired? How could you approve a concept without knowing who the proponent is or what the impacts will be?
Most of us would never agree to that. So why is Ontario moving ahead with legislation that will almost certainly lead to legal conflict – and delay the very developments it’s trying to accelerate? And how will other provincial and federal governments overcome this trust and credibility gap? How will the serious questions raised by groups like the Assembly of First Nations and many Indigenous communities be addressed so we can move forward?
If we’re serious about reconciliation and building shared prosperity, how we approach it matters. You can’t build lasting partnerships by steamrolling people. Reverting to old tactics – ignoring constitutional responsibilities and past commitments – has already been rejected by the courts and Indigenous communities time and again. Continuing down that road only leads to more delays, more burned bridges, and more courtroom battles.
Here’s the thing: many Indigenous communities support development. Many want to partner with neighbours and move projects forward. But when some stand in opposition, it’s often not about a specific project – it’s about the long trail of broken promises that came before it. That project becomes their only leverage for meaningful action.
And who’s at the table matters. Relationships matter. Just like on our own properties, even those of us who support development care who’s doing the work and whether we trust them. Broken promises stick. And it’s long past time we stopped relying on the courts to do what political leadership should have done in the first place: live up to commitments and build relationships that last.
As the federal government pushes to put new rules and frameworks in place to “get things built,” it’s time to think differently. Details matter. Honour matters. Credibility matters. And if the right people aren’t engaged from the beginning, governments don’t get to blame Indigenous communities for standing up for their rights.
When it comes to our own property – or land we steward – we’d do the same.
Let’s move with the urgency these times demand. But let’s do it right, so we don’t have to fix things – or undo the damage – later.
Let’s talk about how we move forward, together. Your thoughts, perspectives, and ideas are crucial. How can we build more sustainable, trusting partnerships that benefit everyone? Reach out so we can help you get your work moving in the direction >>> Let’s talk
